Fluent?

[david-us.livejournal.com]

What is the best way to express the idea of fluency in Russian?

For instance, what if I wanted to say, "I do not speak Russian fluently."

I have always used the word свободно, as in "Я не свободно горорю по-русски."

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

Битва за один источник

[j-claire.livejournal.com]

Could anyone tell me the meaning of the phrase битва за один источник?

It doesn't translate well into English.  Does it mean to fight over the same thing? You would expect a word more like цель - goal.

Or is it not a common phrase at all?  Thanks.

Oswald competent in Russian?

[david-us.livejournal.com]

Many years ago (in the 70's), I took an elective course at the United States Naval Academy in the Political Science Department. The Kennedy assassination was very topical at the time since it was being reinvestigated under the HSCA (House Select Committee on Assassinations).

As probably many of you know, Lee Harvey Oswald, Kennedy's alleged assassin, taught himself Russian. He lived in Minsk for about 2 years where he eventually married a Russian woman, Marina. They had a child and returned to the United States.

Prior to the Kennedy assassination (November 22, 1963), what few people know is that Oswald made an assassination attempt on a right wing extremist who resided in Dallas, General Edwin Walker. He used the same rifle that he ultimately used against Kennedy.

Oswald was very secretive about his plan to kill General Walker, not even telling his own wife.

The night he went out to kill Walker, Oswald left a 2-page note for Marina. That note was ultimately discovered by the investigators in the wake of the Kennedy assassination and it was entered into evidence.

I have read this note and it seems Oswald was not very good at writing Russian.

I would like one of you native Russians to look over this note and make an estimate at what level Oswald was with his Russian. For instance, did he write better than a 5th grader? Was it adult-style writing?

http://emerling22.com/images/walkernote1.jpg
http://emerling22.com/images/walkernote2.jpg

Thanks!

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

Semantics of adjectival position

[ulvesang.livejournal.com]

Please tell me if both are correct or not:

Обед готов.
Готовый обед на столе.

If so, does the inflected word готовый denote the same meaning in both sentences -- or does the meaning differ?

(no subject)

[earthstars.livejournal.com]

So. I don't know any Russian whatsoever and it looks very difficult, but I've decided to learn.

How long do you think will it take me to learn basic to moderate Russian via email? For instance, not being able to understand everything absolutely perfect, but able to grasp meanings of things I read etc., and to have my imperfect sentences understood. This is the level I have with Spanish and would love to reach it in Russian.

I am English. If anyone is interested in helping me learn (email would be best for me) that would be great. I can help with English too!